Early Years 



land surveying under the simplest rural conditions prevalent 

 amongst the respectable labouring farmers of Bedfordshire 

 — Darwin to the culture and privileges of a great University 

 with the object of becoming a clergyman, and Wallace taking 

 the first road that offered towards earning a living, with no 

 thought as to the ultimate outcome of this life in the open 

 and the systematic observation of soils and land formation. 



But the inherent tendencies of Darwin's nature drew 

 him away from theology to the study of geology, ento- 

 mology and botany. The ensuing four years at Cambridge 

 were very happy ones. While fortunate in being able to 

 follow his various mental and scientific pursuits with the 

 freedom which a good social and financial position secured 

 for him, he found himself by a natural seriousness of manner, 

 balanced by a cheerful temperament and love of sport, the 

 friend and companion of men many years his seniors and 

 holding positions of authority in the world of science. 

 Amongst these the name of Professor Henslow will always 

 take precedence. ^' This friendship," says Darwin, *^ in- 

 fluenced my whole career more than any other." Hen- 

 slow's extensive knowledge of botany, geology, entomology, 

 chemistry and mineralogy, added to his sincere and attrac- 

 tive personality, well-balanced mind and excellent judgment, 

 formed a strong and effective bias in the direction Darwin 

 was destined to follow. 



Apart, however, from the strong personal influence of 

 Henslow, Sedgwick and others with whom he came much 

 in contact, two books which he read at this time aroused 

 his ^' burning zeal to add the most humble contribution to 

 the noble structure of Natural Science " ; these were Sir 

 J. HerschePs ^' Introduction to the Study of Natural Philo- 

 sophy," and Humboldt's *^ Personal Narrative." Indeed, so 

 fascinated was he by the description given of Teneriffe in the 

 latter that he at once set about a plan whereby he might 

 c 17 



